WEBVTT 00:00:00.120 --> 00:00:08.080 Good evening everyone. Thanks Sabine for reading the passage this evening. It would be good for you to have that passage open in front of you as we go through it together. 00:00:08.859 --> 00:00:13.220 Now, let me just ask you a rhetorical question before we get started. 00:00:14.900 --> 00:00:24.080 When things in your life are difficult, or things in your life are challenging, what or where is your first port of call? 00:00:24.079 --> 00:00:32.219 Now, the book of Jonah could be described as a great comeback story. And the Bible is full of great comeback stories, isn't it? 00:00:32.619 --> 00:00:37.439 I mean, in fact, there's a book called The Prodigal Prophet written by Tim Keller on the book of Jonah. 00:00:37.700 --> 00:00:43.739 And there's remarkable similarities between the parable of the prodigal son and the book of Jonah. 00:00:44.439 --> 00:00:49.939 But we like hearing about comebacks, don't we? Like we find it encouraging, and we find it uplifting. 00:00:49.939 --> 00:00:55.320 And we might even shed the odd tear at a comeback story that maybe tweaks at the heartstrings. 00:00:56.640 --> 00:01:00.939 And the Bible's full of stories of people who were down and getting back up. 00:01:01.199 --> 00:01:04.560 And that's only made possible because of God's intervention. 00:01:05.700 --> 00:01:09.239 So our theme through the book of Jonah is the Lord saves. 00:01:09.640 --> 00:01:12.519 And here we see him in action in this chapter as he rescues Jonah. 00:01:12.599 --> 00:01:16.560 And it's not because of anything that Jonah's done, because he certainly doesn't deserve it. 00:01:16.560 --> 00:01:20.040 But God rescues him, and he makes the comeback possible. 00:01:21.260 --> 00:01:27.379 God in his righteousness and authority, with the power to save and the power to rescue. 00:01:28.320 --> 00:01:31.840 And it's his grace that provides salvation for Jonah. 00:01:33.379 --> 00:01:35.760 Now, this is actually a first for me. 00:01:37.000 --> 00:01:40.879 You write devotions or give your testimony or lead Bible studies. 00:01:40.879 --> 00:01:46.759 But actually taking time to delve into a passage and preach, this is a first for me. 00:01:47.379 --> 00:01:52.299 And when Alistair asked me, probably quite a number of months ago now, I thought, 27th of March? 00:01:52.359 --> 00:01:54.099 That's miles away. I've got loads of time. 00:01:55.060 --> 00:01:57.799 That time has kind of collapsed on me. 00:01:58.539 --> 00:01:59.699 But it's new for me. 00:02:00.060 --> 00:02:04.979 But when he asked me if I wanted to do it, I was probably a little bit slower to accept than I should have been. 00:02:04.980 --> 00:02:11.400 I don't know what you're like, but when someone suggests to me that you should do something that takes you out of your comfort zone, 00:02:12.140 --> 00:02:13.900 I'm a little bit reticent. 00:02:14.020 --> 00:02:16.259 I'm not one to embrace new opportunities quickly. 00:02:17.580 --> 00:02:21.860 And I usually prefer to consider and weigh things up before agreeing to do it. 00:02:21.879 --> 00:02:26.599 And I think it's funny that it just so happens that I felt like that. 00:02:26.719 --> 00:02:28.659 And Alistair's asked me to preach on the book of Jonah. 00:02:28.659 --> 00:02:33.680 But I'd maybe go a little bit further than that, actually, and as we look at Jonah tonight, 00:02:34.520 --> 00:02:40.919 and we delve into him a little bit further, we'll maybe recognize that there's actually something of Jonah probably in each of us. 00:02:41.900 --> 00:02:45.519 You see, I think what we see with Jonah is that he has a head knowledge, 00:02:45.740 --> 00:02:49.060 but not a heart understanding of God's grace and forgiveness. 00:02:50.039 --> 00:02:54.439 And so what we have here in chapter 2 is a study of a sinner in desperate need of God's grace. 00:02:54.439 --> 00:03:02.520 And it should act as a reminder to us that none of us should feel the same level of pride and ignorance towards others. 00:03:03.859 --> 00:03:09.960 Now, this scene in chapter 2 is one of these Bible stories that most adults, even if they're not Christians, 00:03:11.280 --> 00:03:13.120 will have heard and they'll remember. 00:03:14.639 --> 00:03:18.000 But they're maybe not able to recall what went before it or what went after it. 00:03:18.620 --> 00:03:22.620 But when they were young, our two used to watch VeggieTales videos. 00:03:22.620 --> 00:03:30.340 And there's a clue to giving away my age that I'm talking about videos and not DVDs or live streaming through Netflix or Amazon. 00:03:31.240 --> 00:03:33.599 But anyway, one of the videos was called Jonah and the Pirates. 00:03:34.300 --> 00:03:41.319 And it would have known that you could teach the gospel to children through cartoon characters dressed as peas and carrots and aubergines and the like. 00:03:41.819 --> 00:03:44.500 And it's pretty effective and it's not as daft as it might sound. 00:03:45.080 --> 00:03:46.960 And the songs really get stuck in your head. 00:03:46.960 --> 00:03:51.120 And as I'm telling you all of this, I can hear one of the tunes in my head right now called, 00:03:51.219 --> 00:03:52.640 We're the pirates who don't do anything. 00:03:54.460 --> 00:04:03.140 But when Archie was talking last week, one of the reasons that Jonah was fleeing from the Lord was that he had categorized the Ninevites as the worst of sinners. 00:04:03.939 --> 00:04:08.840 And therefore, in Jonah's mind, he'd limited God in his ability to reach out to all people. 00:04:08.840 --> 00:04:13.759 Well, I can see something of that in myself at times. 00:04:15.500 --> 00:04:21.819 Perhaps in the way in which the sin of others is categorized in my head as perhaps worse than any sin that I might commit. 00:04:23.519 --> 00:04:33.180 And I think that, of course, leads you into thinking that perhaps the grace of God and the forgiveness that he offers is not so deserving for some as it is for others. 00:04:33.180 --> 00:04:37.340 Well, I think that's an application point for us, isn't it? 00:04:37.840 --> 00:04:40.500 That danger of a head knowledge but not a heart understanding. 00:04:41.600 --> 00:04:52.439 See, I think Jonah's lost sight of the fact that God wants all people to know and love him and therefore truth and forgiveness is available for all who hear and are prepared to believe in God. 00:04:53.920 --> 00:05:01.100 Jonah, having pledged his life to God, now ends up spending his time avoiding the very God that he set out to serve. 00:05:01.100 --> 00:05:07.120 And you might already have discovered that strange contradiction in your own Christian life. 00:05:07.240 --> 00:05:11.100 While confessing a love for Christ, you find yourself turning from him. 00:05:12.180 --> 00:05:15.340 While trusting Christ, you might battle with fear and anxiety. 00:05:16.439 --> 00:05:20.800 And while serving Christ, you sometimes struggle with disappointment about certain events in your life. 00:05:22.360 --> 00:05:23.420 Well, I don't think you're alone. 00:05:25.800 --> 00:05:30.140 So here we are, then, at the start of chapter 2 with Jonah in the belly of the fish. 00:05:31.100 --> 00:05:38.040 And I think it's only right that we give this part of the chapter the weight that the book gives it. 00:05:39.160 --> 00:05:42.220 Now, Archie referenced it last week as the elephant or the fish in the room. 00:05:42.540 --> 00:05:44.379 And how do we attempt to explain it? 00:05:45.879 --> 00:05:47.580 Or do we even try? 00:05:49.180 --> 00:05:55.720 In his overview a couple of weeks ago, Alistair referenced the fact that this is a four-chapter book with 48 verses. 00:05:55.720 --> 00:06:03.400 Yet the fish is only actually mentioned once at the end of chapter 1 and again at the end of chapter 2. 00:06:03.600 --> 00:06:07.380 And crucially, and please see this, they include the phrases, 00:06:07.540 --> 00:06:10.540 The Lord provided and the Lord commanded. 00:06:11.500 --> 00:06:17.340 And as hard as it might be to rationalize it, I think we focus on those words provided and commanded. 00:06:17.339 --> 00:06:22.199 Because this is the same God, isn't it, that created and stilled the storm. 00:06:22.719 --> 00:06:25.939 So I think he's more than capable of providing a fish to achieve his purposes. 00:06:26.919 --> 00:06:33.620 Surely for God, the creator, this miraculous event, because that's what it is, is not beyond his capability. 00:06:34.719 --> 00:06:40.419 And we shouldn't limit our view of God by seeking to somehow rationalize this event in any other way. 00:06:40.420 --> 00:06:50.819 And I think if we focus on the how, here we risk missing the point of why God acts in this way as the rescuer for the undeserving Jonah. 00:06:52.800 --> 00:06:58.939 So Jonah's been swallowed and he spends three days and three nights in the belly of the fish. 00:06:59.500 --> 00:07:03.400 Why? Three days and three nights? Why is that particularly significant? 00:07:03.399 --> 00:07:10.679 Well, I just think it's a foretelling of what must happen to Jesus in the period of time between his death and resurrection. 00:07:12.099 --> 00:07:16.639 And Jesus himself referred to these events with Jonah as historical fact. 00:07:18.159 --> 00:07:20.620 And a miraculous sign of God's deliverance. 00:07:21.739 --> 00:07:24.379 So what we have now in chapter 2 is Jonah's prayer. 00:07:24.979 --> 00:07:28.639 And it seems to include this pivotal turning point in his attitude, 00:07:28.639 --> 00:07:37.579 which leads to God's command to the fish to spit them out rather unceremoniously onto dry land in a pool of fishy vomit. 00:07:38.519 --> 00:07:38.879 Nice. 00:07:40.099 --> 00:07:46.639 But we'll just go back and take a moment here and just try and think what the reality here for Jonah was. 00:07:46.719 --> 00:07:48.579 And we'll try and imagine what that must have been like. 00:07:49.139 --> 00:07:49.959 He's been swallowed. 00:07:50.800 --> 00:07:52.699 He believes that he's going to die. 00:07:52.699 --> 00:07:59.759 He is surrounded by darkness, sliminess, no doubt a pretty shocking smell, 00:08:00.360 --> 00:08:03.459 and a complete sense of having no way out of his current predicament. 00:08:04.300 --> 00:08:08.079 So we find Jonah here completely at rock bottom. 00:08:10.399 --> 00:08:13.620 And that got me to thinking what my rock bottom might be. 00:08:13.620 --> 00:08:21.560 Like, have you ever felt completely overcome in situations or perhaps felt there was no way out of your current predicament? 00:08:22.780 --> 00:08:24.780 And thresholds are different for everyone, right? 00:08:25.500 --> 00:08:31.720 I mean, maybe it's the implications of failed exams, bereavement, relationship difficulties with your partner, 00:08:31.899 --> 00:08:35.259 job difficulties, money, difficult family life, feelings of guilt. 00:08:35.679 --> 00:08:36.480 The list goes on. 00:08:37.360 --> 00:08:38.600 You know, being human is not easy. 00:08:38.600 --> 00:08:42.639 And I don't think at any point the Christian faith offers an easy ride. 00:08:43.620 --> 00:08:46.860 So as we go through this chapter, here's six things. 00:08:46.919 --> 00:08:48.620 I've got to remember to hold up two hands for this. 00:08:48.799 --> 00:08:51.820 Six things that I want you to see from this prayer, 00:08:52.100 --> 00:08:56.820 which tell us more about what God can do than the words that Jonah uses. 00:08:57.379 --> 00:08:59.919 Now, I know it's probably traditional to have a three-point sermon, 00:09:00.080 --> 00:09:03.480 but we'll just call this a double club card points deal, and we'll go for six. 00:09:04.299 --> 00:09:05.820 So number one, how we pray. 00:09:07.360 --> 00:09:08.279 Jonah begins, 00:09:08.279 --> 00:09:11.279 In my distress, I... 00:09:11.279 --> 00:09:14.480 So how would you finish that sentence? 00:09:15.939 --> 00:09:19.639 Sometimes it's easy to look at these Old Testament characters and think that, 00:09:20.059 --> 00:09:21.500 I couldn't be like them. 00:09:22.759 --> 00:09:25.159 But when you actually get stuck into the relevant scriptures, 00:09:25.860 --> 00:09:31.220 you quickly see that they were ordinary folk in the sense that they were imperfect and prone to making mistakes. 00:09:33.379 --> 00:09:35.399 Yet, God uses them anyway. 00:09:35.399 --> 00:09:39.500 And they really knew how to pray, and they were honest with God as they prayed. 00:09:40.139 --> 00:09:43.759 You see, God is not some cosmic distant thing. 00:09:43.879 --> 00:09:47.519 He's our Father who knitted us together, and He knows how we feel. 00:09:47.519 --> 00:09:54.299 So, if you are taking notes today, just jot down Psalm 139 and read it at your leisure. 00:09:56.220 --> 00:10:02.819 And read for yourself about the God who's all-seeing, all-knowing, all-powerful, and present everywhere. 00:10:03.019 --> 00:10:07.000 And let that just sink in and be a reassuring truth for you. 00:10:07.000 --> 00:10:14.799 You know, what I've been reminded of as I've studied this book is that Jonah's prayer resembles many prayers that we read in the Psalms. 00:10:14.860 --> 00:10:18.960 And I think that this indicates that Jonah really knew his scriptures. 00:10:20.279 --> 00:10:24.840 And when he was struggling for the right words to use, and the right words to pray, 00:10:24.940 --> 00:10:27.840 he remembered the words used by others. 00:10:27.840 --> 00:10:33.800 Just as a couple of examples, we can look through Psalm 18 and 30, 00:10:33.960 --> 00:10:37.300 and we can see great similarities between the words used by the psalmist, 00:10:37.660 --> 00:10:39.720 and the words in Jonah's prayer. 00:10:40.560 --> 00:10:45.540 Indicating that Jonah, in this moment, was recounting what he knew from Scripture. 00:10:46.480 --> 00:10:48.320 And as Jonah's doing with this prayer, 00:10:49.399 --> 00:10:53.000 when we're struggling, and we just can't find the words, 00:10:53.940 --> 00:10:57.280 we can use someone else's words and revert to Scripture. 00:10:57.840 --> 00:11:01.800 You see, Jesus taught about prayer, didn't he, when he was laying out the Lord's Prayer. 00:11:03.060 --> 00:11:05.480 That your Father knows what you need before you ask him. 00:11:06.820 --> 00:11:11.519 And the Lord's Prayer was given by Jesus as a template, almost, to his followers on how they should pray. 00:11:13.259 --> 00:11:15.360 And Jesus himself hit rock bottom, of course. 00:11:17.220 --> 00:11:18.460 His friends had deserted him. 00:11:19.220 --> 00:11:20.139 Enemies had gathered. 00:11:20.720 --> 00:11:24.000 He was condemned to death, beaten, tortured, 00:11:25.259 --> 00:11:26.460 nailed to a cross. 00:11:27.840 --> 00:11:29.280 And at that point, what did he pray? 00:11:30.460 --> 00:11:35.019 We just read Psalm 22, and we can see the words that Jesus used when he prayed. 00:11:37.720 --> 00:11:42.080 See, Jonah's disobedience causes him to feel real separation from God. 00:11:42.780 --> 00:11:47.019 And if we look through verses 2 through to 4, we've got all the aquatic analogies. 00:11:47.019 --> 00:11:49.199 He's deep in the realm of the dead. 00:11:49.639 --> 00:11:50.179 He's deep in the realm of the dead. 00:11:50.179 --> 00:11:51.419 Hurled into the depths. 00:11:51.919 --> 00:11:55.340 Into the very heart of the sea, and the currents swirled about me. 00:11:56.419 --> 00:11:59.220 All your waves and breakers swept over me. 00:12:00.399 --> 00:12:03.799 Jonah believes himself to have been banished from God's sight. 00:12:03.799 --> 00:12:11.539 Now, if I could be honest at this point, I'd say that at various times in my Christian faith, I've felt distant from God. 00:12:13.059 --> 00:12:14.620 Not particularly engaged. 00:12:16.639 --> 00:12:21.059 But what we've seen with Jonah is that it's his pride and stubbornness to do things his own way 00:12:21.059 --> 00:12:25.259 that have meant that there's been parts of his life that he's not been willing to give over to God. 00:12:25.259 --> 00:12:28.539 And he's wanted to retain control for himself. 00:12:30.059 --> 00:12:32.559 Well, that resonates with me. 00:12:33.860 --> 00:12:35.519 I don't know if that resonates with you. 00:12:36.059 --> 00:12:42.580 For me, I can look back and think that it's at times only ever been me that's created distance from God. 00:12:43.179 --> 00:12:44.360 Like, he hasn't moved. 00:12:45.220 --> 00:12:46.039 But I have. 00:12:47.919 --> 00:12:52.159 I've made choices to neglect prayer, or Bible reading, or study. 00:12:52.720 --> 00:12:53.659 Maybe even fellowship. 00:12:53.659 --> 00:12:56.059 Not invested time into the relationship. 00:12:57.039 --> 00:13:01.159 And I just wonder how quickly our human relationships would go south if we took the same approach. 00:13:03.179 --> 00:13:09.439 But importantly, perhaps attitudes like that make us indifferent towards others. 00:13:10.939 --> 00:13:12.159 Maybe even hostile. 00:13:13.819 --> 00:13:17.839 And we're prevented from having the compassionate heart that God wants us to have. 00:13:17.840 --> 00:13:24.379 It's certainly led me at times to experiencing an inconsistency in my relationship with God. 00:13:24.860 --> 00:13:27.160 But it's been one that's been entirely of my own making. 00:13:29.139 --> 00:13:34.320 See, I think our hearts only begin to change when we recognize God's grace. 00:13:34.800 --> 00:13:38.080 Because that is what drives our compassion towards others. 00:13:38.080 --> 00:13:47.259 I wonder if, like Jonah, it sometimes takes a bitter or even painful experience to get us to that point of dependence. 00:13:47.259 --> 00:13:53.939 Now, you can read lots of commentaries on Jonah too. 00:13:54.679 --> 00:13:58.819 And lots of commentaries say that this is a good example of a prayer to follow. 00:13:59.679 --> 00:14:02.080 And in some ways we can look at it and think that it is a good prayer. 00:14:02.080 --> 00:14:08.520 But I think what makes the prayer great actually is not what Jonah says, but what we can learn from God about it. 00:14:09.360 --> 00:14:16.340 Therefore, I think that means we can have confidence that God hears our prayers almost despite the specific words that we use. 00:14:17.700 --> 00:14:20.520 Because he's more interested in the heart that lies behind it. 00:14:22.280 --> 00:14:24.920 So number two, God answers the prayers of his people. 00:14:24.919 --> 00:14:35.419 Jonah cries out in his distress and in verse 6, recognizes that you, Lord my God, brought my life up from the pit. 00:14:36.740 --> 00:14:43.860 So this is not some insignificant deity or idol that the pagans may worship like the sailors on the boat. 00:14:45.079 --> 00:14:47.419 Like he's interested in us and he's sovereign and powerful. 00:14:48.039 --> 00:14:51.959 And let me just read this from 1 John chapter 5. 00:14:51.959 --> 00:14:54.500 And it's just a couple of verses, verses 14 to 15. 00:14:55.919 --> 00:14:58.719 This is the confidence which we have before him. 00:14:59.599 --> 00:15:04.079 That if we ask anything according to his will, he hears us. 00:15:04.740 --> 00:15:11.919 And if we know that he hears us in whatever we ask, we know that we have the requests which we've asked from him. 00:15:14.099 --> 00:15:18.939 Now we've just finished a series in the evening services, haven't we, on the characteristics of God. 00:15:18.940 --> 00:15:26.960 And we've been reminded about his eternal and overflowing love and his personal knowledge of us and interest in every detail of our lives. 00:15:28.500 --> 00:15:39.480 Now maybe, like me, in the past you might have been frustrated or perhaps even discouraged that the expectations of having prayers answered sometimes don't match the timing that God might have in mind. 00:15:39.480 --> 00:15:45.220 But we need to be reminded of the promises of God and that his wisdom far exceeds our own. 00:15:46.480 --> 00:15:51.340 Remembering that he is the creator, but we are created beings in his image. 00:15:51.340 --> 00:15:56.080 So he sees the whole picture and we only maybe see the odd brush stroke. 00:15:56.920 --> 00:16:00.759 So we must trust, therefore, that his answers are the best possible solutions. 00:16:03.340 --> 00:16:07.519 So number three, God answers prayers in spite of our sin. 00:16:07.519 --> 00:16:13.779 Jonah's not experiencing some spiritual high here. 00:16:14.699 --> 00:16:19.759 He is in spiritual decline and his predicament is as a direct result of his disobedience. 00:16:20.740 --> 00:16:25.159 His preference was to drown rather than be obedient and go to Nineveh. 00:16:25.779 --> 00:16:30.419 And even before that, we saw on the boat that the sailors were praying while Jonah remained silent. 00:16:31.919 --> 00:16:35.919 But he didn't want to pray because he knew that he was in disobedience. 00:16:35.919 --> 00:16:40.719 And I think this is what makes the answer to prayer so significant. 00:16:41.360 --> 00:16:46.579 Because Jonah's done nothing to deserve God's grace and forgiveness, but yet that is exactly what happens. 00:16:48.639 --> 00:16:50.240 So I take that as an encouragement. 00:16:54.219 --> 00:17:00.419 If you're sitting here tonight, and I don't know what people's personal circumstances are, 00:17:00.419 --> 00:17:05.819 but if you're sitting here tonight and you think somehow that you're not good enough to come before God in prayer, 00:17:05.920 --> 00:17:11.940 or believe that what you've done in the past somehow despise you from being in relationship with God, 00:17:12.240 --> 00:17:14.759 or maybe you're living in a way that's not God-honoring, 00:17:15.759 --> 00:17:17.519 can I just encourage you to look at Jonah? 00:17:18.560 --> 00:17:21.940 I mean, this guy couldn't be in a worse predicament than he is right now, 00:17:21.940 --> 00:17:27.160 but yet we see this amazing example of God's compassion and grace, 00:17:27.640 --> 00:17:33.519 that even in Jonah's shame and disgrace, God can use him to his glory. 00:17:35.559 --> 00:17:41.620 And that got me to thinking about wondering maybe how many times I've used my sinful behaviors and attitudes 00:17:41.620 --> 00:17:45.660 as self-made barriers that prevent us from coming to the Lord in prayer. 00:17:45.660 --> 00:17:54.360 See, I think what we see in this section of the book of Jonah is that the depths of God's grace 00:17:54.360 --> 00:17:56.759 are deeper than the roots of Jonah's disobedience. 00:17:58.840 --> 00:18:03.080 I mean, he might be where he is as a result of God's judgment for the sin that he's committed, 00:18:03.640 --> 00:18:07.519 but it's the same God who's holy and judges sin, 00:18:08.000 --> 00:18:13.320 is also the same God that shows compassion, mercy, and forgiveness to all who believe in him. 00:18:13.319 --> 00:18:17.579 Now, that is the wonderful message of the Christian faith, isn't it? 00:18:18.679 --> 00:18:23.279 And it's so perfectly encapsulated in the song Amazing Grace by John Newton. 00:18:23.519 --> 00:18:27.319 Now, I'm sure that you'll all know the story of how that song came to be written, 00:18:28.119 --> 00:18:35.899 but if you don't, I would encourage you to look it up as an example of how and who God saves. 00:18:39.019 --> 00:18:42.379 So, number four, then, God answers our prayers in spite of his judgment. 00:18:44.319 --> 00:18:49.359 Through verses 3 to 5, Jonah recognizes God's hand in his predicament, 00:18:49.460 --> 00:18:54.200 and the second half of verse 6, Jonah can see the salvation that God offers. 00:18:55.539 --> 00:18:58.119 But there is a consequence to suffer for his disobedience, 00:18:58.259 --> 00:19:01.119 and Jonah appeals to the God whose hand is set against them. 00:19:03.259 --> 00:19:05.679 So, I think there's an application point for us here, 00:19:06.319 --> 00:19:10.359 that God is gracious, and while he disciplines those that he loves, 00:19:10.359 --> 00:19:13.019 it comes from that place of wanting to bring us back to him. 00:19:14.339 --> 00:19:19.119 And the wonderful truth of the gospel message is that God provides salvation and deliverance 00:19:19.119 --> 00:19:22.759 instead of judgment and condemnation for those who call on him. 00:19:24.000 --> 00:19:27.799 He corrects his people so that they can live the life that they're called to live. 00:19:27.799 --> 00:19:33.720 And again, if you're taking notes, just jot down a couple of scripture references. 00:19:35.099 --> 00:19:38.399 Hebrews 12, 4 to 11, Ephesians 2, 1 to 9. 00:19:39.119 --> 00:19:43.440 And just read in your own time a bit more about how God disciplines those he loves, 00:19:44.019 --> 00:19:46.980 and how through God's grace we're made alive through Jesus Christ. 00:19:48.759 --> 00:19:50.799 Number five, we're almost there. 00:19:50.799 --> 00:19:54.779 God answers our prayers in spite of our misplaced pride. 00:19:56.359 --> 00:20:00.019 Now, you can look at verse 7 as a pivotal verse, 00:20:00.059 --> 00:20:03.579 as the point where Jonah remembers the Lord as his life is ebbing away. 00:20:04.159 --> 00:20:07.819 And then in verse 8, his recognition of the foolishness of idol worship, 00:20:08.379 --> 00:20:11.759 and his statements that he's going to shout praise, make sacrifices, 00:20:11.879 --> 00:20:13.180 and make good what he's vowed. 00:20:13.180 --> 00:20:17.099 And it is a pivotal turning point, because he's now trying to put his life back, 00:20:17.819 --> 00:20:19.259 point it back towards God. 00:20:19.259 --> 00:20:22.940 But maybe this is just my interpretation of the prayer. 00:20:24.140 --> 00:20:27.140 But there's a lot of I in there, isn't there? 00:20:27.660 --> 00:20:31.940 Like, I can't help but feel that perhaps Jonah thinks that the reason God has answered his prayer 00:20:31.940 --> 00:20:34.240 is because he prayed in the first place. 00:20:36.099 --> 00:20:40.039 Meaning that he thinks that he's done something to deserve what God is about to deliver. 00:20:41.920 --> 00:20:44.039 So I had to read this prayer over and over, 00:20:44.180 --> 00:20:48.819 and then realize that there actually isn't much expression of remorse or regret on Jonah's part. 00:20:49.259 --> 00:20:53.680 And again, I can't help but feel that Jonah now thinks that he's on the right footing with God 00:20:53.680 --> 00:20:57.779 because of the fact that he prayed in his desperation. 00:20:59.539 --> 00:21:02.099 Now, that is clearly to be encouraged, 00:21:02.640 --> 00:21:07.339 but in and of itself, it is not justification for what God is going to do. 00:21:07.339 --> 00:21:10.919 So here's a question. 00:21:12.919 --> 00:21:16.959 Do we believe that God answers our prayers based on the good things that we do? 00:21:19.019 --> 00:21:22.519 See, it's important for us to recognize that God will save us through his grace 00:21:22.519 --> 00:21:26.179 and not because of anything that we may do or not do to deserve it. 00:21:26.679 --> 00:21:29.439 His response is one filled with mercy and grace. 00:21:29.440 --> 00:21:31.000 And where do we see that? 00:21:31.120 --> 00:21:31.900 In its fullness. 00:21:34.160 --> 00:21:36.259 Through the life and death of Jesus Christ 00:21:36.259 --> 00:21:39.259 and his atoning sacrifice for us on the cross. 00:21:41.400 --> 00:21:43.740 See, I think there's also an issue to address here that 00:21:43.740 --> 00:21:49.039 Jonah appears to have forgotten why he is where he is and what got him there. 00:21:50.559 --> 00:21:52.460 You know, when Jonah was on the boat with the sailors 00:21:52.460 --> 00:21:54.400 and the boats going through the storm, 00:21:54.400 --> 00:21:56.780 what were the sailors doing? 00:21:57.640 --> 00:22:00.500 They were calling out to their gods for help. 00:22:02.620 --> 00:22:06.820 See, I think Jonah comes across as being quite self-righteous. 00:22:07.759 --> 00:22:10.420 That he now sits in judgment upon those sailors. 00:22:12.120 --> 00:22:14.780 And I think, and it's just an interpretation, 00:22:15.100 --> 00:22:16.440 but I think he's basically saying, 00:22:16.640 --> 00:22:18.940 those sailors, they are so stupid, 00:22:19.800 --> 00:22:23.500 like they worship and cling to worthless idols that can't save them. 00:22:24.400 --> 00:22:26.019 I told them about you, God, 00:22:26.140 --> 00:22:27.340 and they prayed to you, 00:22:27.560 --> 00:22:30.580 but you and I both know that they're going to return to their false idols. 00:22:30.840 --> 00:22:31.660 They'll never learn. 00:22:33.480 --> 00:22:35.800 See, Jonah talks about those idol worshippers 00:22:35.800 --> 00:22:38.000 forfeiting the grace that could be theirs. 00:22:40.100 --> 00:22:43.420 But yet, he seems to have missed the message of God's grace, 00:22:43.519 --> 00:22:45.780 that God is keeping him alive 00:22:45.780 --> 00:22:48.100 when he should be dead. 00:22:48.099 --> 00:22:51.879 That God's been more gracious to him than he deserves, 00:22:51.980 --> 00:22:54.980 but yet he still cannot be gracious to others. 00:22:56.699 --> 00:23:00.099 And in thinking of the task of preaching God's word to the people of Nineveh, 00:23:00.219 --> 00:23:02.299 and we'll get to that in the other two chapters, 00:23:02.959 --> 00:23:04.579 it's a bit like he's also saying, 00:23:05.019 --> 00:23:07.039 God, look, they're idolaters too. 00:23:08.059 --> 00:23:10.000 Like, they might turn, they might not, 00:23:10.519 --> 00:23:11.539 but even if they do, 00:23:11.619 --> 00:23:13.159 they're just going to go back to their idols. 00:23:14.159 --> 00:23:16.079 You don't understand them, God. 00:23:16.079 --> 00:23:18.000 They're a hopeless cause. 00:23:19.939 --> 00:23:23.220 And then that got me to thinking about people in my life 00:23:23.220 --> 00:23:24.379 that I might view as hopeless. 00:23:25.000 --> 00:23:27.159 And I don't mean that in an unkind sense, 00:23:27.899 --> 00:23:32.099 but in the sense of thinking that God will never be able to get through to them. 00:23:33.039 --> 00:23:35.240 So in my head, I'm already limiting God's ability 00:23:35.240 --> 00:23:37.019 to make breakthroughs into people's life. 00:23:38.000 --> 00:23:39.240 Do you recognize that? 00:23:40.539 --> 00:23:42.899 Is this the feeling we sometimes have towards others, 00:23:43.539 --> 00:23:44.759 friends, family? 00:23:44.759 --> 00:23:46.960 Work colleagues, neighbors? 00:23:48.779 --> 00:23:51.359 See, I think this is teaching us that we need to consider 00:23:51.359 --> 00:23:54.460 and remember that the only reasons that we are Christians 00:23:54.460 --> 00:23:59.180 in the first place is because God accepted us for who we are 00:23:59.180 --> 00:24:00.160 in all our sinfulness. 00:24:01.420 --> 00:24:04.359 And it has nothing to do with anything that we've done. 00:24:05.099 --> 00:24:08.940 Our salvation as believers is only secure because God was gracious to us. 00:24:08.940 --> 00:24:12.779 And perhaps, as uncomfortable as that might make us feel, 00:24:13.220 --> 00:24:17.100 we might actually be the vehicle by which others hear the gospel, 00:24:17.759 --> 00:24:19.480 however difficult that might be for you. 00:24:21.360 --> 00:24:24.820 Now I found this quote in preparation for tonight. 00:24:24.900 --> 00:24:25.680 I'm just going to read it. 00:24:25.680 --> 00:24:39.660 Let me say that again. 00:24:39.660 --> 00:24:43.620 Any genuine step of faith in the right direction 00:24:43.620 --> 00:24:46.660 is more than compensated by God's grace 00:24:46.660 --> 00:24:49.100 to cover all of our deficiencies. 00:24:49.099 --> 00:24:52.339 That's encouraging, isn't it? 00:24:54.199 --> 00:24:55.319 And finally, 00:24:55.699 --> 00:25:00.119 God answers our prayers to make us merciful and gracious. 00:25:01.379 --> 00:25:03.899 You see, steadfast love can only be found in God, 00:25:04.139 --> 00:25:07.859 not fleeting and temporary idols that leave us wanting. 00:25:08.659 --> 00:25:10.799 They're changeable and unreliable, 00:25:11.480 --> 00:25:14.240 unlike God's love expressed in its fullness through Jesus. 00:25:14.240 --> 00:25:19.500 Jesus, three days and three nights, 00:25:20.200 --> 00:25:22.220 mirrored in Jonah's experience. 00:25:23.559 --> 00:25:25.220 And because of what Jesus has done for us, 00:25:25.279 --> 00:25:27.859 there is hope in the steadfast love that God offers, 00:25:28.559 --> 00:25:30.059 no matter the depths of our sin. 00:25:31.539 --> 00:25:33.460 God in love corrects his people 00:25:33.460 --> 00:25:36.339 so they can live a life that they're called to live as believers. 00:25:38.660 --> 00:25:40.400 And that should fill us with gratitude 00:25:40.400 --> 00:25:42.839 and our lives be marked as one in which 00:25:42.839 --> 00:25:44.559 there's a desire to be compassionate 00:25:44.559 --> 00:25:46.980 and caring to others 00:25:46.980 --> 00:25:48.599 and share the good news of the gospel 00:25:48.599 --> 00:25:51.039 that we worship a loving God who saves. 00:25:53.319 --> 00:25:55.859 So we can say that Jonah's recommitted his life to God 00:25:55.859 --> 00:25:58.419 and we'll see what lies ahead of him in the next chapters. 00:25:59.519 --> 00:26:01.299 He has a heart transformed 00:26:01.299 --> 00:26:05.039 and now moves to compassion for the Ninevites, 00:26:05.399 --> 00:26:08.019 but we'll see that it's not all plain sailing for him. 00:26:08.019 --> 00:26:13.480 But at least he now seems to be pointing in the right direction. 00:26:15.059 --> 00:26:18.740 See, Jonah's prayer warns us, I think, of spiritual superficiality 00:26:18.740 --> 00:26:21.799 and it reminds us that God's method of saving us 00:26:21.799 --> 00:26:25.839 isn't always the method that we would have chosen. 00:26:27.319 --> 00:26:31.240 Do you know, perhaps Jonah might have preferred a dramatic search effort 00:26:31.240 --> 00:26:34.779 with Coast Guard ships or helicopters, divers, 00:26:35.000 --> 00:26:36.579 so he might have wanted television coverage 00:26:36.579 --> 00:26:39.500 and piles of support letters as he recovered in hospital 00:26:39.500 --> 00:26:42.779 and a high-profile television interview once he gets out of hospital. 00:26:43.620 --> 00:26:45.539 But God didn't choose to do it that way 00:26:45.539 --> 00:26:48.319 because one of Jonah's main problems was pride. 00:26:51.440 --> 00:26:54.339 God the rescuer for the undeserving. 00:26:54.339 --> 00:27:00.559 Do you know, perhaps if man had been left to choose a means of salvation, 00:27:01.339 --> 00:27:04.659 he wouldn't have chosen a way by which confession of your sins 00:27:04.659 --> 00:27:07.220 and believing and trusting in Jesus was enough. 00:27:09.980 --> 00:27:12.720 And of course, people tried to add things to it, 00:27:13.720 --> 00:27:18.539 like maybe good works or fantastic knowledge of Scripture 00:27:18.539 --> 00:27:20.359 or Bible knowledge. 00:27:20.359 --> 00:27:24.439 But nevertheless, Jesus Christ was the fulfillment of God's plan 00:27:24.439 --> 00:27:28.299 to redeem mankind to himself and secure their eternal salvation. 00:27:29.979 --> 00:27:31.459 Now this is the only means. 00:27:32.899 --> 00:27:34.659 And it's by his provision alone 00:27:34.659 --> 00:27:37.259 and God's grace that you may be saved. 00:27:39.299 --> 00:27:40.139 Why don't we pray? 00:27:44.039 --> 00:27:44.479 Father, 00:27:44.899 --> 00:27:47.859 we thank you that you loved us so much 00:27:47.859 --> 00:27:49.659 that you sent your Son to die for us. 00:27:51.359 --> 00:27:55.059 A once and forever atoning sacrifice for our sins. 00:27:56.779 --> 00:27:58.979 Thank you that we can see your loving grace 00:27:58.979 --> 00:28:00.339 through how you rescued Jonah 00:28:00.339 --> 00:28:03.979 and will you help us as we seek to strengthen our relationship with you 00:28:03.979 --> 00:28:05.959 through prayer 00:28:05.959 --> 00:28:08.399 and being rooted in Scripture. 00:28:09.719 --> 00:28:11.679 Lord, will you fill our hearts with compassion 00:28:11.679 --> 00:28:13.299 and a desire to share 00:28:13.299 --> 00:28:15.159 the good news of the Gospel. 00:28:16.919 --> 00:28:18.740 And we pray these things in Jesus' name. 00:28:19.279 --> 00:28:19.559 Amen. 00:28:20.359 --> 00:28:21.399 Amen. 00:28:21.599 --> 00:28:22.539 Amen. 00:28:22.539 --> 00:28:22.879 Amen. 00:28:35.019 --> 00:28:36.459 Amen. 00:28:39.039 --> 00:28:39.339 Amen. 00:28:39.759 --> 00:28:41.319 Amen. 00:28:41.979 --> 00:28:43.279 Amen. 00:28:43.279 --> 00:28:44.059 Amen. 00:28:44.059 --> 00:28:44.119 Amen.